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CA1314805C - Suspension system for vertical blinds - Google Patents

Suspension system for vertical blinds

Info

Publication number
CA1314805C
CA1314805C CA000586679A CA586679A CA1314805C CA 1314805 C CA1314805 C CA 1314805C CA 000586679 A CA000586679 A CA 000586679A CA 586679 A CA586679 A CA 586679A CA 1314805 C CA1314805 C CA 1314805C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
track
slides
drive rod
accordion
cord
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000586679A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Pieter N. Meyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Allpac International BV
Original Assignee
Allpac International BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Allpac International BV filed Critical Allpac International BV
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1314805C publication Critical patent/CA1314805C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06BFIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/26Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
    • E06B9/36Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor
    • E06B9/362Travellers; Lamellae suspension stems
    • E06B9/365Distance pieces therefor
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06BFIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/26Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
    • E06B9/36Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor
    • E06B9/362Travellers; Lamellae suspension stems
    • E06B9/364Operating mechanisms therein
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S160/00Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
    • Y10S160/90Vertical type venetian blind

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Blinds (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
  • Specific Sealing Or Ventilating Devices For Doors And Windows (AREA)

Abstract

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL BLINDS.

ABSTRACT

Suspension system for vertical blinds, comprising a track, one side of which is partially open, a non-circular drive rod for adjusting the position of hooks, a number of slides each provided with a sleeve having an internal shape that is adapted to suit the section of the non-circular rod and externally provided with a worm wheel which interacts with a second worm wheel for a suspension hook, in a manner such that the slides are movable along the drive rod and the suspension hooks can be rotated by rotating said drive rod with the aid of a cord placed over a pulley. A cord, guided through the interior of the length of the track, at and fastened to the first slide, serves to displace the slides in the longitudinal direction of the track for pushing the blinds to be suspended in and out, respectively. The slides are mutually connected by coupling elements by which the mutual distance of the slide is limited. The cord for displacing the slides is passed along the track on the side on which the drive rod for adjusting the hook position is located and, in particular, above said rod, and the coupling elements are formed by concertina-like elements which are made of springy material and are fixed to the consecutive slides.

Description

~3~0~
SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL BLINDS.

The invention relates to a suspension system for vertical blinds, comprising a track having an essentially rectangular section one side of which is partially open, a nor.-circular drive rod for adjusting the position of hooks, a number or slides each provided with a sleeve having an internal shape that is ad~pted to suit the section of the non-circular rod and externally provided with a worm wheel which interacts with a second worm wheel for a suspension hook, in a manner such that the slides are movable along the drive rod and the suspension hooks can be rotated by rotating said drive rod with the aid of a cord pulley located on the rod and a cord placed over it, means which are also cperated by a cord pulley with cord furthermore being present for displacing the slides in the longitudinal direction of the track for pushing the blinds to be su.spend~d in and out, respectively, for which purpose the slides are mutually connected ~y coupling elements which are designed such that, on the one hand, the slides can essentially come to rest against one another, while, on the other hand, their mutual distance is limited to a maximum, the cord being guided via guide pulleys at one end cf the track through the interior of the length of the track, placed over a return pulley at the other end of the track and fastened tc the first slide, such that the cord functions as the means for displacing the slides.
This prior art system performs excellently and presents no particular problems.
In the known suspension system the coupling elements ~re located in the space above the torque rod.
They are formed by hcok-shaped parts made of light, somewhat springly metal, and each coupling element is fixed to one slide and projects with the outstretched remaining part with the hook through a recess in the . .

, 1 3 ~

next slide but, during pushing-in, then also finishes up in the corresponding opening in other slides.
In view of saving space during storage and transport the hooks are supplied loose and have to be fastened in the slide by the user - with the risk, associated therewith, of unsatisfactory fixing, so that a slat of the blinds drops during suspension.
The inventor has now set himself the object to construct the system as a whole so as to be more compact and thus also more slimline, as a result of which it better fits in with present trends in interior design.
The suspension system accordin~ to the invention has the eharacteristie that, the cord for displaeing the slides is passed along the traek on the side cn which the drive rod for adjusting the hook position is located and, in particular, above said rods and that the eoupling elements are formed by concertina-like elements which are made of springy material and are fixed to the consecutive slides.
In aeeordance with this idea, the eord i5 thus present at that position whieh, in the ease of the earlier suspension system, was oceupied by the eoupling elements, while another solution has now been found for the funetion of said eoupling elements in the form of the eoneertina-like elements which do not oceupy any extra width. The result of this is that the width of the traek ean now ~e reduced considerably.
Very small dimensions are espeeially made possible by a design in which in the slide the rotation spindle for the hook is provided with a worm crown wheel loeated under the drive rod fbr adjusting the hook position and in which the rotation spindle for said hook is arranged symmetrieally relative to the slide. In the earlier system, the worm wheel which 1 ~ 0 ~

was fastened on the spindle for the hook was located next to the non-circular drive rod. Utilizing the said worm crown wheel the result is now achieved that said wheel is located partially beneath the worm wheel driven by tha non-circular rod, and this results thus in a space saving in the width direction.
As a result of the said space saving in the width direction of the track it is now no longer troublesome to keep the dimensions in vertical direction somewhat larger, specifically by already fixing the hooks to the slides in the factory. This prevents the user from mounting the hooks incorrectly.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a vertical blind suspension system having a track partially open at one side with slides disposed therein and having slat-suspending hooks depending through the partially open side and a non-circular drive rod disposed in the track and connected to the slides in such manner that the slides are movable along the dri~e rod and the slat suspension hooks are rotated by rotating the drive rod and a cord system disposed within the track and connected to an end slide and operable in opposite directions for displacing the slides along the track; the suspension system is characterized by accordion-folded strips of flexible material having a predetermined length; each of the accordion-folded strips being disposed within the track and connected at opposite ends to each adjacent slide for distension to space the slides apart along the predetermined length and drawing them along the track in response to operation of the cord system in one direction and being collapsible upon themselves to stack the slides together in response to operation of the cord system in the ~31~
- 3a -opposite direction; each accordion-folded strip including a plurality of bending points intermediate its opposite ends, and attachment apparatus for loosely slidably attaching at least one of the bending points of 4s the accordion-folded strip to the drive rod for suspension therefrom.
The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing of an exemplary embodiment.
Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a portion of the mechanism with the track omitted;
Figure 2 is a cross-section through a track with the mechanism, at the place indicated by II-II in Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a side view of a single slide, taken along arrows III-III in Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is an end view looking towards the track with the end piece carrying the return pulley;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the single end piece, viewed along arrow V in Fig. 4, the track being omitted.
Two slides 1, 1' can be seen in Fig. 1. The slides are displaceable along the rod 2. The cord lengths 3, 4 serve to displace the slides. Consecutive slides are mutually connected by a concertina-like element 5.
As can be seen, in particular, in Fig. 2, the rod 2 is a non-circular drive rod 2 for adjusting .

8 ~ ~
- 4 ~

the hook position. For this purpose, the rod interacts with a worm wheel 6 in each slide 1. According to the invention, in order to translate the rotating movement thereof into a change in the position of the hook body 7 a crown gear wheel 8 is used. Whereas, in the earlier system, a crown gear wheel which was present at the height of the non-circular rod 2 was used for this purpose, said crown wheel 8 is at a lower position.
More particularly, the place indicated by 8' in Fig. 2, at which the teeth of the crown wheel 8 interact with the worm of the worm wheel 6 comes to rest against the lower side or the worm wheel 6 instead to next to it. Thus, according to the invention, a space saving is achieved in the width direction, i.e. in the horizontal direction in Fig. 2.
The manner in which the hook body 7 is fixed in the worm crown wheel 8 (by a hook body being provided with a pair of spring teeth which are pushed through a rectangular opening in the interior of the wheel 8) does per se not differ from the connection in the earlier system, so that the special features thereof are not shown in the drawing. It is mentioned here, however, that, according to the invention, the hook body 7 may already be fixed in the factory in this manner instead of letting the ~ser do the inser-ting of the hooks.
Fig. 2 also shows, even more clearly than fig. 1, that the cord lengths 3, 4 are located, relative to the longitudinal central plane of the track, on the same side as the non-circular drive rod 2 and in particular in the space above the rod 2.
They are guided through two recesses 9 and 10, respec-tively, in the slide 1. Narrowed but open connections of said guide-through channels 9, 10 for the cord lengths make it possible that the cords can be pressed easily inwards during assembly and do not need to be threaded through. The cord lengths 3, 4 are fastened 8 ~ ~

to first slide of the train present in a track - for example, by making knots on either side of said slide -and one of the ends is placed over a return pulley fitted in an end piece on the track. An end piece containing guide rollers for guiding the cord lengths outwards for operation is arranged at the other end of the track; it will be described below. The important point in the inventive concept is the use of cords 3, 4 for displacing the slides, as a replacement for the torque rods hitherto used for this purpose in vertical blinds, which were then also present on the other side or the longitudinal central plane through the track to the non-circulair rod 2 for the position of the suspension hooks for the vertical blinds.
Fig. 1, but in paxticular Fig. 2, shows that the rotation spindle of the crown wheel 8 with the hook body 7 lies in the longitudinal central plane of the slide and that said slide completely covers the width of track 20. As a final result the bodies of the suspension hooks 7 thus lie symmetrically in the width direction of the track.
The coupling elements for the slides, which have to ensure that the second slide follows at a certain distance when the first is desplaced, and so on, preferably have, according to the invention, the shape of concertina-like elements 5 which are best visible in Fig. 1. These are made or plastics material having sufficient elasticity for allowing bending at the bend points such as 11. They ~ay be manufactured such that in the unloaded state they have the somewhat zigzagshaped course shown in Fig. 1, and which is associated with the advantage, in comparison with an outstretched undistorted state, that bending in the wrong direction is avoided The fixing of the concertina-like elements 5 relative to the slides takes place with 8 0 ~

the aid of fixing means integrally formed on either side of each of the slides, and in particular a lowermost fi~ing element 12 which may have the shape of an eye, and an uppermost fixing element 13 which is provided with a slot 14. The two ends of the concertina-like element are then provided, on the upper and lower sides, with pin-shaped projections 15 and 16, respectively (see Fig. 2). During assembly, pin 15 can be pushed into a hole in the fixing element 12 whlle pin 16 can then be pressed sideways through the slot 14 in the element 13. In this state, te pins 15, 16 will no longer have the tendency to leave the openings.
In order to ensure, during movement of the slides towards each other, that the concertina-like element 5 bends further in the correct manner the inner-most bend points, such as 17, of the concertina-like element 5 are pushed into slots in a small flat part 18 which is integrally formed on a ring 19 (see Fig. 1).
The rings 19 have a much larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the drive rod 2, so that they still allow considerable play of the bend points, such as 18, of the concertina 5 also in the transverse direc-tion. The rings 19 are pushed on the rod 2 during assembly when the slides, such as 1, 1', are also threaded onto said rod.
Fig. 4 shows an end view towards the track in which the end piece 21 which carries the return pulley 22 over which the cord 3 is placed in visible.
The end piece is provided with a hole 23 through which the drive rod 2 projects in a freely rotating manner.
The end piece 21 furthermore carries a small block 24 which is provided with a screwthread through which a screw 25 projects. An opening 27, which in this case is completely open on one side but which may also be simply round, is formed in the underside 26.

~3~L~80~

This opening 27 is directly opposite the small block 24.
Both are located in the centre, viewed in the width direction, as a result of which they come to rest opposite the opening in the track. In this manner, the head of the screw 25 is always accessible through this opening in the track. By turning the screw, the end 25' comes to rest, as shown in Fig. 4, against the closed face of the section 20, as a result of which the small block 21 can be formly clamped relative to the track.
An important effect of this type of fixing the end piece 21 is tha~it permits the user to shorten the track. ~e can simply loosen the screw 25 and push the small block as far in the arch-shaped track of standard length as is necessary for the precise length dimension of the track required. The cord can then automatically be pulled outwards on the operating end.
The drive rod 2 remains in the same position relative to the track 20 and the two last-mentioned parts can be sawn off just outside the small block.

Claims (4)

1. In a vertical blind suspension system having a track partially open at one side with slides disposed therein and having slat-suspending hooks depending through the partially open side and a non-circular drive rod disposed in the track and connected to the slides in such manner that the slides are movable along the drive rod and the slat suspension hooks are rotated by rotating the drive rod and a cord system disposed within the track and connected to an end slide and operable in opposite directions for displacing the slides along the track;
the suspension system characterized by accordion-folded strips of flexible material having a predetermined length; each of said accordion-folded strips being disposed within the track and connected at opposite ends to each adjacent slide for distension to space said slides apart along said predetermined length and drawing them along the track in response to operation of the cord system in one direction and being collapsible upon themselves to stack the slides together in response to operation of the cord system in the opposite direction; each accordion-folded strip including a plurality of bending points intermediate its opposite ends; and attachment means for loosely slidably attaching at least one of said bending points of said accordion-folded strip to the drive rod for suspension therefrom.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said drive rod extends within the track along one side thereof and said cord system is disposed within the track on the side where the drive rod is located.
3. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said attachment means are provided for slidably attaching alternate bends of the accordion-folded strip to the drive rod for suspending the strip therefrom.
4. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said means comprises a ring loosely encircling the drive rod and connected to the accordion-folded strips.
CA000586679A 1988-01-08 1988-12-21 Suspension system for vertical blinds Expired - Fee Related CA1314805C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL8800049 1988-01-08
NL8800049A NL8800049A (en) 1988-01-08 1988-01-08 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL BLINDS.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1314805C true CA1314805C (en) 1993-03-23

Family

ID=19851569

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000586679A Expired - Fee Related CA1314805C (en) 1988-01-08 1988-12-21 Suspension system for vertical blinds

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US4958672A (en)
EP (1) EP0323872B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH01214684A (en)
AT (1) ATE74649T1 (en)
AU (1) AU614804B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1314805C (en)
DE (1) DE68901137D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2032097T3 (en)
NL (1) NL8800049A (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL8903061A (en) * 1989-12-13 1991-07-01 Schoen Siegfried Joachim DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING SLAT-SHADE BLINDS OR THE LIKE.
ZA200002457B (en) 1999-05-31 2000-11-23 Hunter Douglas Ind Bv Carrier and spacer assembly.
US6321821B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2001-11-27 Benthin Aktiengesellschaft Traveler for a vertical blind
DE102007030906A1 (en) 2007-07-03 2009-01-15 Vkr Holding A/S Spacer for a carriage of a shading system and shading system

Family Cites Families (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL281614A (en) * 1900-01-01
GB868961A (en) * 1959-06-03 1961-05-25 Vertical Blinds Corp Of Americ Vertical slat venetian blinds
DE1509292A1 (en) * 1964-09-18 1969-01-09 Eldredge Jun Richard James Lamellar curtain
NL7500815A (en) * 1975-01-23 1976-07-27 Hunlas Bv JEALOUSY.
US4122884A (en) * 1977-01-24 1978-10-31 Consolidated Foods Corporation Vertical venetian blind construction
US4140169A (en) * 1977-08-15 1979-02-20 Arena Joseph Philip Carrier for vertical blinds
US4214622A (en) * 1978-06-30 1980-07-29 Levolor Lorentzen, Inc. Vertical blind
US4262728A (en) * 1978-06-30 1981-04-21 Levolor Lorentzen, Inc. Vertical blind
GB2031493B (en) * 1978-09-09 1982-12-08 Louver Lite Ltd Slat blind
US4293021A (en) * 1979-06-06 1981-10-06 Arena Joseph Philip Support for traversing window covering device
FR2509363A1 (en) * 1981-07-09 1983-01-14 Gendre Ets Remote controlled blind for large windows - comprises interconnected strips which pivot and slide parallel to window surface
US4657060A (en) * 1982-03-01 1987-04-14 Graber Industries, Inc. Vertical venetian blind with inline drive
US4724883A (en) * 1985-11-07 1988-02-16 Leibowitz Martin Nick Drapery and vertical blind system
GB2137269B (en) * 1983-03-24 1986-08-06 Hunter Douglas Ind Bv Verticle louvre blind
IT8321445U1 (en) * 1983-04-06 1984-10-06 Vitari Giuseppe GEAR DEVICE FOR ORIENTING AND MOVING THE STRIPS IN VERTICAL SLAT BLIND
US4628981A (en) * 1985-04-08 1986-12-16 Micro Molds Corporation Vertical blind assembly
DE3525590A1 (en) * 1985-07-18 1987-01-22 Sunteca Sonnenschutz Spacers for running carriages in vertical blinds
US4736784A (en) * 1987-02-09 1988-04-12 Boloix Jose A Vertical blind mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU614804B2 (en) 1991-09-12
DE68901137D1 (en) 1992-05-14
NL8800049A (en) 1989-08-01
US4958672A (en) 1990-09-25
ATE74649T1 (en) 1992-04-15
AU2773589A (en) 1989-07-13
JPH01214684A (en) 1989-08-29
EP0323872A2 (en) 1989-07-12
ES2032097T3 (en) 1993-01-01
EP0323872B1 (en) 1992-04-08
EP0323872A3 (en) 1989-11-23

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